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resources of the trained college woman。 And the reason why such homes
and such villages are so often barren of grace and variety is just because
these fine qualities have not ruled them。 The higher graces of civilization
halt among us； dainty and finished ways of living give place to common
ways； while vulgar tastes； slatternly habits； clouds and despondency reign
in the house。 Little children under five years of age die in needless
thousands because of the dull； unimaginative women on whom they
depend。 Such women have been satisfied with just getting along； instead
of packing everything they do with brains； instead of studying the best
possible way of doing everything small or large； for there is always a best
way； whether of setting a table； of trimming a hat； or teaching a child to
read。 And this taste for perfection can be cultivated； indeed； it must be
cultivated； if our standards of living are to be raised。 There is now
scientific knowledge enough； there is money enough； to prevent the vast
majority of the evils which afflict our social organism； if mere knowledge
or wealth could avail； but the greater difficulty is to make intelligence；
character； good taste； unselfishness prevail。
What； then； are the interests which powerfully appeal to mind and
heart； and so are fitted to become the strengthening companions of a
woman's life？ I shall mention only three； all of them such as are
elaborately fostered by college life。 The first is the love of great literature。
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I do not mean that use of books by which a man may get what is called a
good education and so be better qualified for the battle of life； nor do I
mention books in their character as reservoirs of knowledge； books which
we need for special purposes； and which are no longer of consequence
when our purpose with them is served。 I have in mind the great books；
especially the great poets； books to be adopted as a resource and a solace。
The chief reason why so many people do not know how to make comrades
of such books is because they have come to them too late。 We have in this
country enormous numbers of readers； probably a larger number who read；
and who read many hours in the week； than has ever been known
elsewhere in the world。 But what do these millions read besides the
newspapers？ Possibly a denominational religious weekly and another
journal of fashion or business。 Then come the thousands who read the best
magazines； and whatever else is for the moment popular in novels and
poetry the last dialect story； the fashionable poem； the questionable but
talked…of novel。 Let a violent attack be made on the decency of a new
story and instantly； if only it is clever； its author becomes famous。
But the fashions in reading of a restless racethe women too idle； the
men too heavily workedI will not discuss here。 Let light literature be
devourered by our populace as his drug is taken by the opium…eater； and
with a similar narcotic effect。 We can only seek out the children； and hope
by giving them from babyhood bits of the noblest literature； to prepare
them for the great opportunities of mature life。 I urge； therefore； reading as
a mental stimulus； as a solace in trouble； a perpetual source of delight； and
I would point out that we must not delay to make the great friendships that
await us on the library shelves until sickness shuts the door on the outer
world； or death enters the home and silences the voices that once helped to
make these friendships sweet。 If Homer and Shakespeare and Wordsworth
and Browning are to have meaning for us when we need them most； it will
be because they come to us as old familiar friends whose influences have
permeated the glad and busy days before。 The last time I heard James
Russell Lowell talk to college girls； he said；for he was too ill to say
many words〃I have only this one message to leave with you。 In all your
work in college never lose sight of the reason why you have come here。 It
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
is not that you may get something by which to earn your bread； but that
every mouthful of bread may be the sweeter to your taste。〃
And this is the power possessed by the mighty dead；men of every
time and nation； whose voices death cannot silence； who are waiting even
at the poor man's elbow； whose illuminating words may be had for the
price of a day's work in the kitchen or the street； for lack of love of whom
many a luxurious home is a dull and solitary spot； breeding misery and
vice。 Now the modern college is especially equipped to introduce its
students to such literature。 The library is at last understood to be the heart
of the college。 The modern librarian is not the keeper of books； as was his
predecessor； but the distributer of them； and the guide to their resources；
proud when he increases the use of his treasures。 Every language； ancient
or modern； which contains a literature is now taught in college。 Its history
is examined； its philology； its masterpieces； and more than ever is English
literature studied and loved。 There is now every opportunity for the
college student to become an expert in the use of his own tongue and pen。
What other men painfully strive for he can enjoy to the full with
comparatively little effort。
But there is a second invigorating interest to which college training
introduces its student。 I mean the study of nature； intimacy with the
strange and beautiful world in which we live。 〃Nature never did betray the
heart that loved her；〃 sang her poet high priest。 When the world has been
too much with us； nothing else is so refreshing to tired eyes and mind as
woods and water； and an intelligent knowledge of the life within them。 For
a generation past there has been a well…nigh universal turning of the
population toward the cities。 In 1840 only nine per cent of our people lived
in cities of 8；000 inhabitants or more。 Now more than a third of us are
found in cities。 But the electric…car； the telephone； the bicycle； still keep
avenues to the country open。 Certain it is that city people feel a growing
hunger for the country； particularly when grass begins to grow。 This is a
healthy taste； and must increase the general knowledge and love of nature。
Fortunate are the little children in those schools whose teachers know and
love the world in which they live。 Their young eyes are early opened to the
beauty of birds and trees and plants。 Not only should we expect our girls
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
to have a feeling for the fine sunset or the wide…reaching panorama of field
and water； but to know something also about the less obvious aspects of
nature； its structure； its methods of work； and the endless diversity of its
parts。 No one can have read Matthew Arnold's letters to his wife； his
mother； and his sister； without being struck by the immense enjoyment he
took throughout his singularly simple and hard…working life in flowers and
trees and rivers。 The English lake country had given him this happy
inheritance； with everywhere its sound of running water and its wealth of
greenery。 There is a close connection between the marvellous unbroken
line of English song； and the passionate love of the Englishman for a home
in the midst of birds； trees； and green fields。
〃The world is so full of a number of things； That I think we should all
be as happy as kings；〃
is the opinion of everybody who knows nature as did Robert Louis
Stevenson。 And so our college student may begin to know it。 Let her enter
the laboratories and investigate for herself。 Let her make her delicate
experiments with the blowpipe or the balance； let her track mysterious life
from one hiding…place to another； let her 〃name a